Combination undergarments



L. RODRIGUEZ COMBINATION UNDERGARMENTS Filed Feb. 17, 1961 R w m m nite State? 3,668,488 COMBENATIGN UNDERGARlv EENTS Leonarda Rodriguez, 379 E. 159th St., New York, Filed Feb. 17, 1961, Ser. No. 90,111

5 Claims. (Cl. 2-212 This invention broadly relates to garments, and particularly to undergarments, and especially deais with a one-piece combination undergarment composed of, what may be considered, inner and outer members, adapted to so-to-speak telescope with one another, the inner member constituting what are to be known as panties, whereas the outer member forms a pantie-like skirt structure adapted to overlay the inner panties.

Undergarments constituting a combination of panties and a skirt are well known in the art. However, in most instances these garments are somehow permanently fastened to one another, mostly about the waistline, and usually are adapted to be worn for specific purposes such as for athletic and similar activities.

The present invention is concerned with a new type of undergarment which is adapted to be worn in combination with another type of undergarment, such as a girdle, and can be worn with one of its members beneath the girdle and with its other member on top thereof, and which undergarment of the present invention will facilitate the ready positioning thereof for emergency purposes without the requirement of removing the girdle.

Broadly defining the structure of this invention, the device consists of a one-piece undergarment having inner and outer telescoping members, and wherein the inner member constitutes panties with an open crotch, said inner member being adapted to be placed beneath the girdle, that is directly over the body portion over which the girdle is applied, whereas the outer member forms a skirt-like pantie structure adapted to cover the panties with the open crotch and particularly the open crotch thereof, and is further adapted to slip over the outer surface of the girdle. Thus in case of emergency the girdle need not be removed, the inner panties remain in their position under the girdle but the outer skirt-like pantie structure is slipped down sufliciently to clear the open crotch portion of the inner panties. After the emergency the skirt structure is pulled up again over the girdle, thereby automatically closing the open crotch portion of the inner panties.

It is the prime object of this invention, therefore, to provide a one-piece undergarment having inner and outer members adapted to normally overlay one another in their normally worn position, and wherein the inner member constitutes panties with an open crotch and the outer member forms a pantie-like skirt structure permanently connected with the inner panties by covering element for the open crotch portion of the inner panties, andwhich covering element overlays the open crotch of the inner panties during normal wear of the undergarment.

Another object of this invention is to provide a one- .piece undergarment comprising two substantially telescoping inner and outer members adapted to normally overlay one another, and wherein the inner member constitutes panties with an open crotch and the outer member forms a pantie-like skirt adapted to at least partly cover the inner panties, and wherein both of the members are provided with waistbands adapted to assume substantially parallel positions relative to one another when the garment is worn in its normal, usual manner, that is in a position at which the two members overlay one another, and wherein a connecting element between the inner and outer member is adapted to normally cover the open crotch portion of the inner member when the two members are in their normal wearing position.

Pater "ice Another object of the present invention is the provision of a one-piece undergarment having inner and outer telescoping members adapted to be normally 'worn in overlying position to one another, either directly or in connection with a girdle or the like, and wherein the inner member constitutes panties with an open crotch, which panties, when the undergarment is worn with a girdle, are adapted to be placed beneath the girdle, while the outer member constituting a pantie-like skirt, adapted to overlay the panties as it is placed on top of the girdle, and wherein both members are permanently united by a substantially broad ribbon-like strip which forms, when the two members are in their telescoping relation, a covering element for the open crotch of the inner member, and which covering element is of a sufiieient length to permit the slipping down of the outer member so that the covering element clears the open crotch portion of the inner member.

The foregoing and still other objects and important advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which latter are to serve for explanatory purposes only without intention of limiting the present invention to the specific structures illustrated, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective front elevation of one of the possible forms of the combination garment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational perspective view of the two garment members in their position at which the open crotch of the inner member is exposed by the lowering of the outer member, the latter being positioned with its waistline in upper position;

PEG. 3 is a rear view illustration similar to the front View seen in FIG. 2, but with the waistline of the outer member shown in its lowermost position; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a typical pattern required for the production of the undergarment illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

In FIG. 4, the upper area of the pattern is indicated at -14 defining the pattern outline of the inner member, and which numeral 10 is applied to the corresponding portions of the garment shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. In FIG. 4 the letter a denotes the waistline of the inner garment member, said waistline terminating at end points a, intended to be united. From points a there depend two edge lines to points b. From points 11 extend two vertical lines to points c. The vertical lines between a and b at both edges of the pattern are intended to form joining seams as clearly indicated in FIG. 3, whereas the vertical lines between b, c of FIG. 4 indicate hemmed edges which are not united but are left free, and which constitute, when the garment is seamed together along lines a' b and between points 0 and the outer ends d of cuts 0', the open crotch portion of the inner garment member 16, constituting the panties.

It will be noted that within approximately the central area of the pattern (FIG. 4) there are cut-out areas 1 arranged symmetrically and that from the lower edges of these symmetrical cut-outs extend to points d at the outer edges of the pattern, cuts c. The edges of cutouts I and both edges of cuts 0' are preferably hemmed, as indicated in dotted lines. From the outer ends d of cuts c' run vertical lines downwardly to points c". These vertical lines at both Outer edges of the pattern (shown in FIG. 4) are intended to be seamed together to form the upper portion of the outer garment member in the form of a pantie-like skirt structure 11.

Extending between the upper hemmed edge portions of the cut-out areas I there is indicated a stitch line j. Along that line are secured the inwardly curved aeccnss end areas ll, along their hemmed edges formed by cuts c, terminating at "61. (See FIG. 4.) The attachment of curved end areas ll by way of their hemmed edges along stitch line f is clearly shown in FICw. 2 and 3. Having sewed the curved end areas ll of the inner garment portion to stitch line f, the leg-accommodating portions L of the panties are formed.

The foregoing defines the steps of constructing the inner garment member, its open crotch and its leg-accommodating portions L.

The outer garment member 11: is constructed as follows: The vertical edges defined between the ends (1 of cuts 0' and the lowest points 0 are seamed together. (See i and 3.) From stitch line f extends downwardly the connecting element C which is formed by the symmetrical cue-outs l and constitutes the crotch covering portion of the outer garment memher. The latter member, indicated by numeral in FlGS. 1, 2 and 3, is provided with a resilient waistline e, indicated in pattern FIG. 4 and all the garment structures shown in H68. 1, 2 and 3.

In FIG. 3 the pantie-like skirt portion or outer garment member is positioned with the waistline e at its lowermost position, whereas in FIG. 2 the waistline e is at the top end of garment member 11.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present device constitutes a one-piece garment formed by inner member it? and outer member Ill, each of which members possess individual elastic waistlines a and e, respectively, adapted to become substantially parallel, when the garment is worn in its normal position. The inner member iii forms panties with an open crotch and leg-accommodating areas KL/5! When worn with other undergarments, this inner garment member would normally be placed beneath the girdle or corset, whereas the skirt-like outer garment memher 11 is intended to be positioned over the outer surface of the girdle or corset. The two garment members are joined by the aforedescribed connecting element C, which element, when the garment members are in their telescoping or overlaying relation, as shown in FIG. 1, is adapted to cover the open crotch of the inner garment member 14). This crotch covering element constitutes a fixed connection between and an integral part of the two garment members. The outer garment member is of substantially a skirt-like formation and is adapted, in normal wear, to overlay and cover the legaccornmodating areas L of the inner garment member.

As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the skirt-like outer garment member is adapted to be pulled down in case or" emergency so that the connecting or crotch-covering element C will clear the open crotch of the inner garment member, the crotch-covering element forming, as stated, a fixed connection between the outer and inner garment members, permitting a limited displacement of the members relative to one another. Obviously this connecting, crotch covering element C must be sufiiciently pliable and must be of a sui'licient length to permit the positioning of the outer garment member in respect to the inner garment member in the manner indicated in either of the two FIGURES 2 or 3.

Re'sum e In the foregoing the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in the drawings is described, as it particularly relates to a garment structure adapted for wear by females in conjunction With another undergarment, such as a girdle or corset, in which event one, the inner member of the present one-piece undergarment is to serve as protective covering applied directly to the wearers body. The girdle, or any similar additional undergarment, for instance a corset, is then applied over that inner garment member, that is, the panties lit with the open crotch, while the outer garment member, that is,

the skirt-like structure ii, is fitted over the girdle or corset in normal wear.

The advantage of using the present undergarment in the manner outlined in conjunction with a girdle or corset manifold. The body of the panties will not only provide a protective cushion upon which the girdle or corset will rest, but the panties will absorb perspiration, thus minimizing the soiling and frequent cleansing of the girdle or corset. Moreover, neither of the two latter garments resting over the panties will have to be removed in the event of emergency, and element C, connecting the two members of the present undergarment will automatically cover the open crotch of the panties, when the outer memher is pulled up over the girdle or corset.

While the use of the present undergarment in conjunction with other undergarments is clearly highly advantageous, its use by itself possesses similar advantages, which can not be underestimated.

it is to be noted that, while the drawings illustrate but a single embodiment of the present undergarment, especially designed for use by female wearers, the basic principle of this invention is applicable for use by male wea -rs as well, with but slight modifications, all Within e of the present disclosure. Since such modifications of th present undergarmcnt for use by males involves nothing more than proper proportioning and adjustment of the pattern, such as seen in FIG. 4, specific illustrations of such modifications for use by males are deemed superfluous.

Having thus presented the salient features of the instant invention, including its ready adaptation for wear by both female and male, also its varying applications to ther undergarments and its advantages, it is to be understood that, although only one preferred embodiment thereof is described, that Within the purview of this invention modifications and changes may be effected without departing from objects and purposes stated, all within the broad scope of this invention, as defined in the annexed claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A one-piece undergarment having an inner, leg-accommodating and an outer skirt-like member, said members being adapted to be normally worn in substantially overlaying relation to each other and having individual elastic waistlines, the inner member constituting panties with an open crotch portion and adapted, when worn with other undergarments, to be placed beneath a girdle or corset, whereas the outer garment is intended to be positioned over the outer surface of such girdle or corset, a covering element for said open crotch portion of the inner member during normal Wear of the undergarment, that is, when the two garment members are in a substantially overlaying position, and wherein said crotch covering element forms an integral part of and permanently connecting both garment members.

2. A one-piece undergarment as in claim 1, and wherein one end of the crotch covering element is permanently secured to said inner member along a curved stitch line connecting the leg openings of said inner member, whereas the other end of said element is permanently secured to the lower edge of said outer member.

3. in a one-piece undergarment, comprising permanently joined inner and outer garment members having individual resilient waistline areas and adapted to be normally worn in substantially a telescoping relation to each other, the inner garment member having an open crotch and leg-accommodating areas adjacent thereto, the outer garment portion constituting a skirt-like structure adapted to normally overlay the inner garment member, a covering element for said open crotch of said inner member constituting a fixed connection between the two garment members, one end of said element being permanently secured to said inner members along a line connecting its leg accommodating areas, the other end of said element bong permanently secured to the bottom edge of said outer garment member, the skirt-like formation of said outer member being adapted to normally overlay the legacoommodating areas of said inner garment member, but being further adapted to be pulled down beneath said legaccommodating areas so that said covering element for the open crotch of the inner garment member clears the open crotch when required.

4-. in a one-piece undergarment, interconnected inner and outer garment members adapted to normally overlay one another but further adapted to be partly displaeeable Without separating, said inner garment member having leg-accommodating areas and an open crotch area therebetween, said outer garment member constituing a skirtlike structure adapted, at its normal position, to overlay and cover the leg-accommodating areas of the inner garment member and having a covering element for the open crotch area of said inner garment member, said covering element forming a pliable, permanent connection between and integral with the two garment members, and wherein each of the garment members have individual waistline areas, the outer skirt-like garment member having a bottom edge from substantially its central rear area of which extends said covering element to a substantially central front area of said inner garment member, said covering element fixedly uniting the two garment members, but facilitating their relative displacement to one another.

5. In a ene-piece undergarment, as in claim 4, and wherein said Wastline areas of both garment portions are resilient to render them self-adjusting to the wearers waistline.

References ited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,972,795 Rieffannacht Sept. 4, 1934 

